Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were mythological rulers and culture heroes of China during the period from c. 2852 BC to 2205 BC, which is the time preceding the Xia Dynasty. The actual translation of is problematic in that it is most often translated using its modern sense, which did not arise until after the advent of an imperial state under Qin Shi Huang. Its original meaning, and the most likely translation thereof, is that of supreme being, a kind of Übermensch, rather than ''emperor''. This is reflected in Shangdi, the supreme deity during the Shang dynasty. The character is represented a way of wearing a liturgical mantle. The Three Sovereigns, sometimes known as the Three August Ones, were said to be god-kings or demigods who used their magical powers to improve the lives of their people. Because of their lofty virtue, they lived to a great age and ruled over a period of great peace.